Labial muscle exerciser

ABSTRACT

A device for exercising the labial muscle of the upper lip and for use in developing the hypotonic upper lip, the device generally comprising a band portion positioned between the upper lip and upper teeth, a tongue-like portion extending downwardly from the band portion and which fits over the outer surface of the lower lip. Means are provided for applying a force to the device generally in the forward direction which force acts against the force applied by the labial muscle of the upper lip in holding the device in the mouth.

nited States Patent 1191 [111 3,924,850

Robertson 1 Dec. 9, 1975 LABIAL MUSCLE EXERCISER 3,805,771 4/1974 Wright128/62 A [76] Inventor: Thomas J. Robertson, 637 Old State Road, Pevely,Mo. 63070 Primary ExaminerRichard J'. Apley Assistant Examiner-Joseph R.Taylor [22] Ffled' 1974 Attorney, Agent, or FirmRogers, Ezell & Eilers[21] Appl. No 444,831 i [57] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl. 272/57 H 51 I111. cl.A63B 23/00 A devlce exerclsmg the lam] muscle of the upper lip and foruse in developing the hypotonic upper lip, the device generallycomprising a band portion positioned between the upper lip and upperteeth, a

[58] Field of Search 84/465, 466; 128/136, 60, 128/147, 76 R, 62 A, 67;272/57 H; 32/14 B,

20 tongue-like portion extending downwardly from the band portion andwhich fits over the outer surface of [56] References Clted the lowerlip. Means are provided for applying a force UNITED STATES PATENTS tothe device generally in the forward direction which 885,196 4/1908 Steil128/136 force acts against the force ap lied by the labial mus- 6.7326/1968 Robins cle of the upper lip in holding the device in the mouth.3,547,433 l2/l970 Robins 3,744,485 7/1973 Worthy 272/57 H 9 Claims, 6Drawing Figures US. Patent Dec. 9, 1975 LABIAL MUSCLE EXERCISERBackground and Summary of the Invention This invention relates to anexercising device, and particularly such a device for use in exercisingand strengthening the labial muscle of the upper lip.

The chief purpose of the device is to correct a condition known as ahypotonic upper lip found in children and adults, which condition ischaracterized by a short upper lip that exposes a substantial portion ofthe upper teeth. The labial muscle of the upper lip is very weak and forthis reason use of the upper lip is minimal. With the hypotonic upperlip is often found a forward protrusion of the upper teeth which can becaused by the imbalance of muscle forces acting on the teeth in the oralcavity. With normal lip competency, tensioning of the labial muscle inthe upper lip tends to develop a more natural balance of forces actingon the teeth to maintain the teeth in a relatively straight condition.However, a weak labial muscle is unable to maintain the balance, causingthe upper teeth to protrude forwardly because the oral muscles are notin proper balance. Even if the teeth are straightened throughorthodontic management, there is a strong possibility that they willrevert back to their protruding state if the hypotonic condition is alsonot corrected. The device of this invention is exceptionally effectivein correcting this condition.

There have been other devices used for the purpose of correcting thehypotonic lip, but each of those known to applicant have theirdisadvantages. One such device is an ordinary button of the typecommonly used to fasten clothing. The button is placed behind the upperand lower lips and in front of the upper and lower teeth. A cord isconnected through the holes in the button to extend forwardly betweenthe lips. With the button in position the user applies tension on thecord and attempts to hold the button in his mouth by using the upper andlower lip muscles. The problems with this device are that the user mustuse both the upper and lower lips to hold it in his mouth wherein it isonly the upper lip that has the hypotonic condition. The user is able tocompensate for his weak upper lip by using the lower lip to hold thedevice in his mouth which defeats the very purpose of the device. Also,because of the excessive use of the lower lip in holding the button inthe mouth, there often results an overdevelopment of the mentalis musclefound next to the chin. Often, with the button device, favorable resultsachieved in strengthening the labial muscle of the upper lip arediscounted by the unfavorable overdevelopment of the mentalis muscle.

Another prior art device comprises a pair of spring members attached tothe rear molars of the upper teeth by means of bands. The springs extendforward to the center of the mouth and are connected to an acrylic padwhich is located between the upper teeth and upper lip and which bymeans of the spring members is biased so as to push the upper lipforward. To operate the device the user tries to press the spring biasedpad against his upper teeth by means of his upper lip. The disadvantagesof this device are that is must be permanently installed in the usersmouth by an orthodontist at considerable discomfort, expense, andcontinued aggravation.

This invention overcomes these disadvantages in providing as its objectsa labial muscle exerciser that minimizes the influence of the lower lipmuscles and hence has minimal effect on the mentalis muscle whilestrengthening the upper lip, that is easy to use and may be placed inposition at the will of the user without the need for permanent andexpensive installation by an orthodontist, with which relative accuratemeasurements can be made of the labial muscle development progress oftheuser, and that is durable yet quite inexpensive to produce.

Generally, the exerciser of this invention comprises a band portionwhich fits in the mouth between the upper lip and upper teeth and whichis contoured to fit along the maxillary arch. The band. is of sufficientlength to make it possible to retain the band in this position bytensioning the labial muscle of the upper lip.

The exerciser also includes a tongue-like portion which extendsdownwardly from the band and over the outer surface of the lower lip tothe location of the mentalis muscle just above the chin. Means areprovided for exerting a force on the exerciser forwardly against theaction of the labial muscle of the upper lip which, in a preferredembodiment of this invention, comprises a cord attached to the exerciserat a location just beneath the lower edge of the upper lip andapproximately midway between the ends of the band portion.

Description of the Drawing FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a labial muscleexerciser of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view in section taken generally along the line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a front elevation view of the device of FIG. 1 as shown inposition for use;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 but showing the position of thedevice relative to the user with the device in operation.

Detailed Description of a Preferred Embodiment In the drawing (FIGS.1-3) there is shown a labial muscle exerciser 10 of this invention withFIGS. 4 and 5 depicting the device in position for use, and FIG. 6depicting the device in operation. For ease in understanding thefollowing description, the numeral 12 identifies the upper lip of theuser wherein the labial muscle is located, the numeral 14 identifies thelower lip of the user, and the numeral 15 identifies the location of thementalis muscle which as seen from the drawing is located in the frontand just above the chin.

The exerciser 10 comprises a band portion 20 which is contoured as shownin the drawing to fit in the mouth along the maxillary arch between theupper lip and upper teeth. The total length of the band portion 20,which can be considered to comprise a central portion 21 and arms 22 and23 extending from opposite sides thereof, should be at least sufficientso as to allow the user to retain the exerciser in position bytensioning of the labial muscle in a manner to press the band portionagainst the front of the upper teeth. Since the labial muscle of thosefor whom use of the device is necessary is quite weak when use of thedevice is first initiated, it is preferred that the arms 22 and 23extend to at least the locations of the cuspids, thus providingsufficient contact with the upper lip for retention.

The contour of the band 20 conforming to the maxillary arch not onlyprovides a comfortable fit but also maximizes the effectiveness of thelabial muscle exer- 3 cise so that the entire upper lip participates.The shaping of the band portion 20 need not be precise but need only becontoured generally to the shape of a normal upper aw.

The exerciser also comprises a generally tongueshaped portion 25 whichextends downwardly from the central portion 21 of the band 20. The widthof the tongue portion 25 should be somewhat less than the width of theaverage mouth as it must extend downwardly over the front surface of thelower lip as shown in FIGS. 46. The tongue portion 25 is of sufficientlength to extend downwardly to the location of the mentalis muscle andis contoured, as best shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, such that its lower endrests against the mentalis muscle with the device placed in position butwithout force supplied as during operation (FIG. 5).

The exerciser I0 is preferably of one-piece construction and made of anysuitable material such as plastic.

A cord 27 of any suitable material such as nylon is connected at one endto the exerciser 10 by means of holes 29 through which the cord isthreaded and tied. The holes 29 are located about midway between theends of the arms 22 and 23 and just beneath the lower edge of the upperlip 12 with the device positioned in the mouth.

Operation and Use In operation, the exerciser of this invention isplaced in the mouth with the band portion positioned between the upperlip 12 and the upper teeth and with the tongue portion 25 extendingdownwardly over the outer surface of the lower lip 14. With theexerciser in position, but without applying force to it by means of thecord 27, the lower end of the portion 25 rests against the mentalismuscle 15.

To operate the device the user, with his teeth in occlusion, appliestension on the cord 27, preferably in a directly forward direction (FIG.6) requiring the tensioning and thus exercising of the labial muscle ofthe upper lip 12 to retain the band 20 in the mouth. The user applies asmuch force on the cord 27 as possible while still retaining the devicein position by means of the labial muscle. At first only very slightforce can be tion 25 discourages the user from placing the devicebetween the lower lip and lower teeth as well as the upper lip and upperteeth which would have the adverse effect of overdeveloping the mentalismuscle.

It has been found that as some users first begin exercising with thisdevice, the labial muscle of the upper lip is so weak that they areunable to retain the device with even the slightest force applied to thecord 27. The shape of the portion 25 which allows the lower end thereofto rest against the end of the mentalis muscle 15 allows such a user topress the lower end of the portion 25 against the mentalis muscle 15 bymeans of his finger, thus providing him some additional leverage toassist in retaining the device in position under some tensioning of thecord. This pressure on the mentalis muscle 15 also emphasizes to thebeginning user the importance of reducing the use of the mentalis muscleduring the exercises to a minimum.

Because the design of the device of this invention tends to isolate theupper lip for development, it is possible to obtain fairly accuratemeasurements of the progress of this development by use of a straingauge connected in the cord 27. By measuring the amount of forcerequired to pull the device from the users mouth against the force ofhis labial muscle, and by doing this periodically throughout theexercise program, it is possible to monitor the progress.

Hence, there has been described an improved labial muscle exerciser foruse in developing the hypotonic upper lip, which tends to isolate thedevelopment of the upper lip without excessive stimulation of thementalis muscle, which is durable, easy and inexpensive to use and whichotherwise overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art devices andfulfills the objects heretofore set forth.

Various changes and modifications may be made in this invention, as willbe readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes andmodifications are within the scope and teaching of this invention asdefined by the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

l. A labial muscle exerciser comprising a band contoured to fit in themouth along the maxillary arch between the upper lip and upper teeth,and a portion extending generally downwardly from the band, thegenerally downwardly extending portion having an upper portion and alower portion extending at least somewhat rearwardly from the upperportion, said generally downwardly extending portion being formed torest against the mentalis muscle with the exerciser in place withoutforce applied forwardly against the action of the labial muscle of theupper lip.

2. The exerciser of claim 1 further comprising means connected to theexerciser for exerting a force for wardly against the action of thelabial muscle of the upper lip.

3. The exerciser of claim 2 wherein the force exerting means is a cordconnected to the exerciser at a location just below the lower edge ofthe upper lip and approximately midway between the corners of the mouthwith the exerciser in place for operation.

4. The exerciser of claim I wherein the band is of at least sufficientlength to extend between the cuspids.

5. The exerciser of claim I wherein the device is of one piececonstruction made of plastic.

6. The exerciser of claim 1 wherein the upper portion of the generallydownwardly extending portion extends generally downwardly from, and nomore rearwardly than, the band.

7. A labial muscle exerciser comprising a band contoured to fit in themouth along the maxillary arch between the upper lip and upper teeth,the band being of at least sufficient length to extend between thecuspids, a portion extending downwardly from the band, the downwardlyextending portion having an upper portion extending over the lower lipand a lower portion extending at least somewhat rearwardly from theupper portion toward the location of the mentalis muscle, the downwardlyextending portion being formed to rest against the mentalis muscle withthe exerciser in place without force applied against the action of thelabial muscle of the upper lip, and means connected to the exerciserapproximately midway between the ends of the band and just below thelower edge of the upper lip means includes a cord connected at one endto the exerciser.

9. The exerciser of claim 8 wherein the device 1s of one piece constructon age of plastic.

1. A labial muscle exerciser comprising a band contoured to fit in themouth along the maxillary arch between the upper lip and upper teeth,and a portion extending generally downwardly from the band, thegenerally downwardly extending portion having an upper portion and alower portion extending at least somewhat rearwardly from the upperportion, said generally downwardly extending portion being formed torest against the mentalis muscle with the exerciser in place withoutforce applied forwardly against the action of the labial muscle of theupper lip.
 2. The exerciser of claim 1 further comprising meansconnected to the exerciser for exerting a force forwardly against theaction of the labial muscle of the upper lip.
 3. The exerciser of claim2 wherein the force exerting means is a cord connected to the exerciserat a location just below the lower edge of the upper lip andapproximately midway between the corners of the mouth with the exerciserin place for operation.
 4. The exerciser of claim 1 wherein the band isof at least sufficient length to extend between the cuspids.
 5. Theexerciser of claim 1 wherein the device is of one piece constructionmade of plastic.
 6. The exerciser of claim 1 wherein the upper portionof the generally downwardly extending portion extends generallydownwardly from, and no more rearwardly than, the band.
 7. A labialmuscle exerciser comprising a band contoured to fit in the mouth alongthe maxillary arch between the upper lip and upper teeth, the band beingof at least sufficient length to extend between the cuspids, a portionextending downwardly from the band, the downwardly extending portionhaving an upper portion extending over the lower lip and a lower portionextending at least somewhat rearwardly from the upper portion toward thelocation of the mentalis muscle, the downwardly extending portion beingformed to rest against the mentalis muscle with the exerciser in placewithout force applied against the action of the labial muscle of theupper lip, and means connected to the exerciser approximately midwaybetween the ends of the band and just below the lower edge of the upperlip with the exerciser in place for operation, for exerting a forceforwardly against the action of the labial muscle of the upper lip. 8.The exerciser of claim 7 wherein the force exerting means includes acord connected at one end to the exerciser.
 9. The exerciser of claim 8wherein the device is of one piece construction made of plastic.